Hi folks,
I got started on my Web Platform based project last weekend, and have made loads of head-way, but I haven't been able to get the UART working, and I suspect a driver issue. Currently, the USB LED isn't even lighting up as I try to transmit to my virtual COM port with a terminal application, while previously, the LED was strobing, and I was receiving umlauted 'y' characters back, even though my code should have been echoing the received characters.
Regardless, what I think I need is a good procedure for (preferably) removing whatever drivers I currently have installed, and installing good ones for the FT232R on the Web Platform. I am using Windows XP, and also OSX 10.6.6, so help with either would be fine. A verified .HEX file with simple UART functionality would also be helpful, I will also need the settings for use with that program would also be needed.
Any help appreciated...
Thanks.
See this post viewtopic.php?f=24&t=1486 (http://dangerousprototypes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=1486) for my SD server HEX file. Debug info is emitted via the USB-cum-virtual UART when accessing pages on the web server.
Apart from the notes in that post, note that it uses port 81, not port 80. So, http://dhcp_address:81 (http://dhcp_address:81) to access it.
Anyone have working drivers? Again, the USB light doesn't even light up when I try to send characters to it.
So my HEX file doesn't work?
(I'm using Win 7 64 bit in Parallels on a Mac Mini and just accepted the Windows inbuilt drivers.)
Well, unless I can type on my terminal and see the USB LED flash, I'm inclined to believe that nothing is going to work.
Anyone have working drivers? Again, the USB light doesn't even light up when I try to send characters to it.
Hi CBS,
Sorry about the issues with the web platform.
Here are the official FTDI driver download for the chip on the web platform:
http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm (http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm)
One thing to note is that the FTDI chip only has the transmit LED, so the LED only blinks when data moves from the PIC on the web platform to the FTDI chip. If the PIC is not transmitting, the LED will not blink even when data is sent from the PC.
The default firmware (ships in the web platform, and can be downloaded at the link below) should support a simple UART echo command:
http://dangerousprototypes.com/docs/Web ... #UART_echo (http://dangerousprototypes.com/docs/Web_platform_firmware#UART_echo)
http://code.google.com/p/dangerous-prot ... rm.v0a.zip (http://code.google.com/p/dangerous-prototypes-open-hardware/downloads/detail?name=web-platform.v0a.zip)
The intro to PIC programming article also uses a echo demo:
http://dangerousprototypes.com/docs/Int ... rogramming (http://dangerousprototypes.com/docs/Introduction_to_dsPIC33_programming)
http://code.google.com/p/dangerous-prot ... akechanges (http://code.google.com/p/dangerous-prototypes-open-hardware/downloads/detail?name=web-platform-dsPIC33Intro.v1a.zip#makechanges)
Please let me know if any of this helps. Best of luck with your project.
Ian, you didn't link the drivers.
dp-wp-stackdemo.v0a.hex echoes back umlated 'y's, the same thing I was seeing before.
I am using 115200 Baud, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no flow control, and no parity.
Hi CSB,
Sorry about that, the driver is here:
http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm (http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm)
I also added a section to the wiki in case anyone can't find it in the future.
Thanks, Ian.
I am currently using the ones from the executable installer (http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/CDM/CDM20802_Setup.exe (http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/CDM/CDM20802_Setup.exe)) and just getting those umlat'd 'y's
Are the port settings I am using correct for dp-wp-stackdemo.v0a.hex from looking at the code, I believe they are correct. (See previous post.)
I'm currently using putty, but can anyone recommend a different terminal software to try? I've used putty for serial in the past, and actually prefer it, but if something else will work, I'm willing to try it.
Everything looks good to me. Maybe you have terminal emulation enabled?
I usually use Teraterm or "Hercules configuration utility", realterm is also good but complicated.
Can you explain terminal emulation? Is this a setting in my application, or a driver setting?
It is a setting in your terminal. Usually it will have several options, but VT-102 is usually best for the Bus Pirate.
[quote author="ian"]It is a setting in your terminal. Usually it will have several options, but VT-102 is usually best for the Bus Pirate.[/quote]
Putty doesn't have those options, except for a section called "Change the sequences sent by: [. . .] The Function keys and keypad." I'll try some of the terminal applications you recommended when I get home.
This is particularly frustrating, since I've never had an issue using one of my PL2003 (or some prolific chip) usb -> rs232 adaptors when connecting to either a discrete or MAX232 level shifter connecting to a PIC, using putty. I'm tempted to cut the traces and wire in one of those solutions instead, but I don't need USART for my project, and it'll only be for development conveniences.